9:10 Opening remarks from the Central Bank of the UAE

9:20 Opening keynote address:

Banking 10 years from now

Traditional banks are in trouble, having shrunk their branch and office footprints and changed their business models to cope with shifting customer demands, the rise of digital technologies and competition from non-bank new entrants. In this keynote presentation, futurist and author Brett King will talk about the future of banking, including mobile payments, open banking, robotics, artificial intelligence and sustainable finance. He will also explore the potential of “banking ecosystems” – the interconnected sets of a services, financial and non-financial, that are being developed by banks and non-bank platform companies.

9:50 Panel session 1:

Finding a winning retail banking strategy in the digital age

Financial technology is developing rapidly, creating untold benefits for banks. Digital payments, open banking APIs, mobile banking, the use of big data analytics to understand changing customer needs, cryptocurrencies, blockchain, cloud computing, robotic process automation, artificial intelligence, the internet of things – all are transforming the retail banking marketplace, in the Middle East and globally. But with opportunities there are also risks. The cost of new technology can be high, it does not always work and cyber breaches are a constant worry. Furthermore, traditional banks are having to compete with challenger banks, small fintech firms and big technology companies like Apple, Google, Amazon and Tencent. If they cannot beat this tech-savvy competition, banks may chose to partner with them, or even retreat from certain markets altogether. Other powerful forces are also at work which are making it harder to plan ahead, such as changing customer demographics, the current interest rate environment and the growing popularity of Islamic banking. Finding a winning retail banking strategy in these transformational times is becoming increasingly elusive.

10:30 Panel session 2:

Financial crime – it can never be eradicated, but it can be contained

Fraud, money laundering, terrorist financing, cyber attacks, rogue trading – the crimes being committed against banks and their customers are as serious as ever. What are the most worrying crime trends, and where are they originating? What are banks doing to fight those threats? How are they exchanging information on fraud and other crime risks with their domestic and international peers? How are banks assisted by industry alliances, software vendors, consultants, law enforcement and intelligence agencies, financial regulators and political leaders? What role do supra-national institutions like the Financial Action Task Force, Europol, Interpol and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime have to play?

11:10 Networking refreshment break

11:40 On-stage interview:

Sustainable finance is the future of finance

Environmental pollution, climate change and the depletion of natural resources – all pose a serious threat to the planet and to mankind, so urgent action is needed to create a more sustainable global economy. Banks are playing their part by focusing more on sustainable finance – lending and investing in renewable energy and in businesses that develop or use lower-carbon technologies. Meanwhile, the Financial Stability Board’s Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures is causing financial institutions to think carefully about their activities.

What exactly is sustainable finance? How are lenders and investors incorporating environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles into their decision making? What impact is this having on the oil and gas producing countries of the Middle East and their efforts at economic diversification? How does sustainable finance dovetail with wider banking initiatives such as corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate citizenship.

Daniel Klier, Group Head of Strategy and Global Head of Sustainable Finance, HSBC

INTERVIEWER:James King, Middle East Editor, The Banker

12:00 Panel Session 3:

Global financial regulatory reform – no time for a breather

The regulatory reform programme introduced in the wake of the global financial crisis is nearly complete. The authorities’ focus is now shifting away from writing new regulations and towards ensuring proper implementation and effective supervision. Can banks’ legal and compliance officers now relax? Or will more time now have to be allocated to ensuring compliance with newly introduced regulations and dealing with ever-more intrusive supervisors? Regulatory and supervisory activities at the top of the global agenda include Basel IV, the FSB’s Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures, the phasing in of Total Loss-Absorbing Capacity (TLAC) standards and the regulatory upheavals in the EU caused by Brexit.

David Berman, Partner, Financial Regulation, Latham & Watkins

Mark Carawan, Chief Compliance Officer, and Member of the Operating Committee, Citi

Name to be announced, Senior Executive, BNY Mellon

MODERATOR:James King, Middle East Editor, The Banker

12:40 Panel session 4:

The Ethical and Responsible Banker

Banks around the world are paying more attention to ethical, conduct, environmental and social issues than ever before. In the wake of rising customer complaints, mis-selling scandals, compliance breaches and other misdemeanours, boards and senior management teams are working hard to change the conduct and professional competence of themselves and their staff. On a wider scale, banks are ramping up their efforts to demonstrate their environmental and social credentials through corporate responsibility and citizenship programmes. So what makes an ethical and responsible banker? And how much do customers care, or even notice?

13:20 keynote address:

The financial industry is going through a major transformation driven by the emergence of new technology. The key challenge is to find the right balance between regulation and innovation, so that consumers and businesses can benefit from new possibilities, while financial stability is maintained, and society as a whole remains inclusive. Governor Olli Rehn will explore this question from a central bank’s perspective.